Liquid dispenser



A914126, 1966 D. F. coRsETTE l-:TAL 3,248,021

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed NOV. 26, 1962 INVENToRs .dzgZasE 607156556 ez' 6.' 5a/7725er; Y waimegwwww...

ATTORNEYS D. F. coRsE'rTE ETAL 3,248,021

April 26, 1966` LIQUID DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1962.

azgw affee en: C 'aalvf'der BY a/mm, Cm, GMM, *wam ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,248,021 LIQUID DISPENSER Douglas F. Corsette, Los Angeles, and Rex C. Cooprider, Downey, Calif., assignors to Calmar, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 239,937 11 Claims. (Cl. 222-321) This invention relates `to new and improved dispensers of the reciprocating piston type for discharging liquids from portable containers, either as a stream or as a line spray or mist, and to new and improved methods of making and assembling the same.

It has long been the practice to employ, for the dispensing of liquids from small containers, hand actuated pumps formed of moldable plastic material comprising, in assembled relation, a stationary unit for direct association with the container, arid a reciprocable piston unit which is manipulated to effect discharge of the container contents. Each of these units is customarily made of a considerable number of separately formed plastic parts, adhesively secured or bonded together, for instance by a plastic solvent. The separate formation of these various parts and their assembly to form each of the twov basic units of the pump is necessarily time-consuming and expensive. Furthermore, the bonding of the parts is not invariably perfect, with the result that a significant proportion of the pumps so made are defective.

In our co-pending application Serial No. 122,585, iiled July 7, 1961, we have shown that substantial simplification of such pumps and the method of making and assembling the same can be elected through initial molding or casting of each of the units, stationary and reciprocable, as .a single integral structure, whereby the time-consuming and expensive operation of manual assembling of the live or six parts heretofore required in the production of each unit, and the bonding of these parts to form a unitary structure, are eliminated.

Our co-pending application also discloses, in dispensers of the character described having stationary and reciprocable units, means whereby these units may be temporarily locked against relative displacement in -a position such that the dispenser is completely sealed, thereby preventing leakage of liquid from the container during shipping, even though the container be inverted.

These and other features and advantages described in our prior application aforesaid are present in enhanced measure in dispensers constructed in accordance with the instant invention. Thus it is an object of the present invention to effect further simplification of pumps of the type described, thereby reducing significantly the cost of manufacture. It is also an object of the invention to provide new and improved valves and seals affording optimum eiciency in operation of the pumps during use and insuring freedom from leakage during transportation and storage.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of a dispenser embodying the principles of the invention, showing the unit in locked and `sealed position for ,application to a container prior to shipment; l

FIGURE 2 and 2A are fragmentary enlarged sectional views of a part of the structure shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the unit shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional View of the dispenser without the head portion, illustrating the method of assembly by deformation of certain parts;

FIGURES 5 and 5A are enlarged fargmentary sec- 3,248,021 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 ice tional views of sealing means shown in FIGURE 1, rendered effective on immobilization of lthe reciprocable unit;

FIGURES 6 and 6A are enlarged -fargmenary sectional views of a ball valve and associated sealing means shown in FIGURE l; and

FIGURES 7 and 7A are transverse sectional views of a check valve taken on the lines 7 and 7A respectively, of FIGURE 1.

To promote an understanding of the invention, reference will now be made to the preferred embodiment thereon illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and speciiic language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be 4appreciated that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such further modifications and alterations being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring iirst to FIGURE 1, in which is illustrated an assembled unit, locked in the sealed position for shippin-g, it will be seen that the stationary unit of the dispenser comprises a cylindrical barrel 12, a depending suction tube 13, and a collar portion 14. The collar portion 14 is formed at the upper end of barrel 12, noting that throughout the following description the dispenser will be assumed to occupy the upright position in which it is normally used. An annular skirt 21 depends from the collar portion 14 and forms part of .a container cap. The lower edge of the container cap is formed to provide anv inwardly directed annular protuberance 22 dimensioned to engage beneath an annular rib 25 on ya container neck 26 on which the cap is snapped by pressing the same downwardly on the neck. The lower side of rib 25, as shown at the right in FIGURE 1, is serrated or provided with downwardly projecting beads, so that cold ow of the plastic cap after application thereof to the container neck serves to lock cap and neck against relative rotation, for a purpose hereinafter explained. Elements 12, 13, 14 and 21 are molded or cast integrally, this being made possible by the contour of the structure, which lends itself well to a single injection molding operation.

In lieu of the conventional gasket normally fitted beneath the collar and engaging the lip of the container neck to eiiect a seal, collar 14 is formed to provide an integral sealing portion. This preferably comprises an annular, downwardly facing V-shaped groove formed in the lower face of the collar, so dimensioned as to receive therein the annular lip of the container neck. 'I'he collar is further formed, inwardly of groove 75, to provide an annular recess 76, whereby both the outer and inner walls defining groove 75 may ex more readily. Usually, each wall will be flexed inwardly slightly below the upper surface of the lip to grip and more effectively seal the container neck as the collar is forced downwardly on the latter in threading the container cap down. However, depending on the shape of the lip, the walls defining groove 75 may be forced apart by the lip. It will be appreciated that despite wide manufacturing tolerances normally observed inthe production of containers of glass and like material, the flexibility `of the integral collar seal, formed as described, permits consistently effective sealing engagement with the lip of the container neck.

The stationary and reciprocable units of the dispenser may be formed of any moldable plastic materials, preferably materials commonly designated thermoplastics, such as the lpolyolein's, and especially polypropylene. Excellent results are achieved by the use of a linear polyethylene sold under the trademark Super Dylan by Koppers Company, Inc., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In general, any plastic material subject to the hot or 3 cold flow, capable of being molded and readily deformed after molding in response to heat and/or pressure may be employed.

rI'he reciprocable unit of the dispenser consists essentially of a plunger 35, and a depending hollow piston 36, dimensioned to it snugly within the interior vwall of barrel 12, these elements being integrally formed. A onepiece spray head 37 is pressed on the upper end ofthe plunger 35 as shown, the upper part of the head being formed to provide the usual linger piece 39 for depressing the reciprocable unit to pump liquid from the container.

Discharge passage 40, extending upwardly through the plunger 35 and head 37, communicates at its upper end with a passage 41 formed in the inner wall of the head and leading to orifice 38, whereby the liquid is discharged as a spray.

In lieu of the upper ball valve shown in our prior application, the instant invention contemplates the use of cooperating parts integral with the plunger and spray head to close the upper end ofthe discharge passage 40, excepting on the downward (discharge) stroke of the plunger, reducing the cost of the pump and increasing its eiiiciency. Thus, as shown in FIGURES 1, 7, and 7A, the upper end of the plunger 35 is formed to provide a depending annular flange 43 coaxial with the plunger. A longitudinal partition or web 44, apcrtured at 45 in its upper central portion, divides the chamber defined by the annular tiange 43 into two generally semi-cylindrical portions, one of which is closed at its lower end by a transverse web 46 and the other of which is closed at `its upper end by al1-inwardly directed abutment 48 having a downwardly inclined upper face.

Spray head 37 is formed to provide a depending stud 47, coaxial with the head when molded, but being deected laterally at its lower end by abutment 48, as shown in FIGURE 1, when the head is assembled on the plunger. Stud 47 may be circular in transverse section; in that event, abutment 48 and partition or web 44 are corresponsingly recessed to embrace part of one side of stud 47 in the deiiected position of the latter.

Thus web 44 and abutment` 48 constitute a valve seat .and stud 47 functions as a valve element, flexing away from its seat -on the compression stroke of the plunger to permit upward ilow of liquid within discharge passage 40 and toward orifice 38. Not only is the expense of assembling a ball valve at this point avoided, but the -valve herein shown, as distinguished from a gravity seated ball, remains closed when the pump is laid on its side or inverted, thereby averting drainage of liquid from the discharge passage.

Received Within -piston 36 and Seated against the lower end ofvbarrel 12 is a coil compression spring 52, acting to urge the reciprocate unit upwardly. Ball valve 55, seating by gravity in the lower end of barrel 12, acts as la check valve to-prevent drainage of liquid downwardly from the barrel 12. Preferably the seat 53 for ball valve 55 forms an angle of at least 45 with the axis of the dispenser to minimize the possibility of Wedging of the valve in its seat; this may cause a tendency of the valve to rattle on the upward stroke of the reciprocable vunit. However, annular lip 56,'extending upwardly from seat 53 ,and having slight clearance with ball valve 55,

functions to prevent such rattling.

Spring 52 lis formed with a convolution 60 of reduced diameter, preferably adjacent each end, as shown, to provide reversibility. As will be apparent from FIGURE 1 of the drawing, when the reciprocable unit is fully depressed, the ball valve 55 is engaged by the adjacent small convolution 60 of spring 52 to seat the valve against displacment, thus preventing ow of liquid past the valve and outwardly through passage 40 when the dispenser is inverted. Although an optimum angle of ball seat may be ernployed, wedging of the ball in its seat may occasionally silient, however, the torque required to thread occur as the result of application o f sustained pressure exerted by the spring 52 against the ball. It is accord-` ingly proposed to construct the seat 53 as shown more lowest position to apply pressure through spring 52,to

force the ball against its seat, the lip 57 is deliected out-` wardly, assuming the position in which it is shown in FIGURE 6A. In this position of the lip, the ballengages the inner Wall rather than the upper edge of thelip,`

the angle then presented by the wall being preferably not less than 45 to the vertical. On release of the plunger and removal of spring pressure from the. ball, `the lip 57 tends to resume its initial position and to dis-` lodge the ball in so doing.

The reciprocable unit is immobilized and retained .in the depressed position by coacting threads 61, 62 formed on the collar 14 and the head 37, respectively. When the head is screwed down within the collar, coacting sealing surfaces on the head and the collar are pressed together to prevent discharge of liquid from lthe container externally of the plunger 35. By the conjoint action of thisseal and of the seal effected by the action of spring 52 in holding the ball valve on its seatas previously described, the container is completely sealed and loss of `liquid is prevented during handling and shipping, this being of particular importance when toxic liquids, such as insecticides, are used.

The head to collar seal effected when the plunger is fully depressed and locked, by threading the head with` in the collar as above described, is of an unique type,l

and is shown in the enlarged fragmentary sectional views,

FIGURES 2 and 2A. Thus the skirt portion of thel head 37 is formed to lprovide a depending annular ange 78 having a depending lip 80, the peripheral surface of flange 78 being initially shaped as shown in FIGUREZ with a zone of maximum diameter at 79. In that figure,

the parts are shown as the head 37 is less than fully threaded down in collar 14 and as the lip 79 first contacts the internal conical surface 76 of the collar. AS downward movement of the head 37 proceeds, the ange 78 is deflected inwardly.l When the plunger is fully depressed as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2A, the lip -80 engages a convexly curved annular surface 82 formed silient to permit an interference lit within the collar.`

In other words, the maximum diameter of the ange, at 79, may be slightly greater than the diameter of the collar surface 83 within which the ange 78 is received in the sealing position of the dispenser components, there-1 l by increasingsealing eiciency. Since the ange is redown and to release the head is quite low.

The skirt 85 at the upper end of the barrel 12 is pref-` erably slotted at circumferentially spaced points as indicated at 18 to provide vents 19 for the purpose of prei venting the formation of an airlock in the barrel 12 above the piston, .to permit ingress to the container of air in order to replace discharged liquid, and to allow drainage into the container of liquid which may pass the piston and which would otherwise be trapped in the upper portion of barrel 12. In accordance with the int Vention, vents 18 are closed Iat their upper ends when the unit is locked for shipping. Thus as shown in FIGURE 1, and in more detail in FIGURES 2, 2A and 3, slots 18 (which are open to the container interior) are in communication at their upper ends with the interior of barrel 12 at points which, when the spray head 37 is locked down, lie intermediate the seal formed between flange 78 and wall 83 of the collar, and the seal formed between lip 8i) 4and surface 82 of the collar. Flow of liquid through vents 19 is thus completely blocked when the unit is conditioned for shipping by threading the head within the collar to close the head to collar seals, but on release of the head preparatory to pumping, the vents are automatically opened.

In order that the head 37 Imay be lthreaded down tightly within the collar 14, prior to assembly of the unit on a container, a novel support for the collar is provided, shown more particularly in FIGURE 3 of the drawing. The lower skirt 85 of the collar (surrounding the upper end of cylinder 12) is serrated to provide teeth 86, each tooth having at each side thereof a surface 87 which is substantially parallel to the axis of the unit and surfaces 88 which are inclined with respect to xthe unit axis. A support or jig for the collar, which may comprise an annular `sleeve (not shown) having a correspondingly serrated portion at its upper edge, engages and interlocks with the teeth 86 on the collar. Those edge surfaces of the coacting teeth on the collar and jig which are parallel to the unit axis resist rotation of the collar as the head is threaded down,rwithout tending to force the collar upwardly and away from the jig. The inclined surfaces resist downward thrust, especially during deformation of the plunger guide. By pointing the tooth ends on the collar and jig, improper orientation in assembling the unitl in the jig is avoided.

Prior to assembly of the spray head on the plunger 35, 'the upper end of the barrel 12 is deformed or swaged inwardly to provide a bearing or guide for the plunger and to limit the upward stroke of the plunger and prevent its withdrawal from the stationary unit. In FIG- URE 4, the plunger 35 is shown assembled in the stationary unit in a depressed position, in which position the swaging operation may readily be performed. It will be noted that the upper end of barrel 12 terminates in a shoulder 91 adjacent -the juncture of the barrel and the collar portion 14. Upon deformation of shoulder 91 by the application of downward pressure, an annular lip or bead 92, serving as a plunger guide and shown in its iinal form in FIGURE l, is simply and accurately produced.

It will be noted that in the lowered position of the plunger, the plunger guide 92 engages an enlarged portion 93 of the plunger, which serves to limit the inward flow of material during the swaging operation. The in crease in outer diameter of the plunger at 93 is very slight, and is exaggerated in the drawing, being only suliicient to insure that during the normal working stroke of Ithe plunger there is adequate mechanical clearance between the plunger and the plunger guide 92, which maintains the plunger upright while permitting smooth reciprocal movement of the plunger in the guide. It will be appreciated that the necessary tolerance between plunger and guide may thereby be readily and uniformly established.

In FIGURE 4 of the `drawing is shown in dot-and-dash lines a generally cylindrical swaging tool in position to effect the swage at the shoulder 91 at the upper end of fbarrel 12. During the swaging operation the stationary unit is supported in a jig which coacts with lower skirt 85 of collar 14, as hereinbefore described, to resist the downward thrust applied by the swaging tool. The swaging tool employed to form the plunger guide 92 may also be provided with means to hold the plunger 35 in its lowered position against the action of spring 52 so that the enlarged portion 93 of the plunger 35 may function as described above.

The piston 36 is provided at its upper end with an outwardly Haring skirt or chevron 94, tending to resist ow of liquid downwardly in the annular passage between -barrel 12 and plunger 35. However, it is found that when the Vdispenser is inverted or laid on its side, and pressure develops within the container, for example as the result of temperature rise, liquid trapped above the piston and within the said passage may be forced past the piston and into the discharge passage 40, resulting in leakage outwardly of the passage and through the discharge orifice 38. To prevent this, a special seal, rendered operative when the plunger is in its lowermost and immobilized position, isl provided.

Thus, sealing means preferably constructed as shown in FIGURES 5 and 5A are provided at the lower end of the piston 36. The lower skirt portion of the piston is formed to provide a peripherally enlarged portion and a depending lip 9.6, molded initially as shown in FIGURE 5. When the plunger is fully depressed, the lip 96 is forced downwardly between the barrel wall and the slightly inclined or conical peripheral surface 98 of an annular flange 99 projecting upwardly from the lower end of the barrel 12, tending to expand circumferentially the lip 96 and thereby to press the lip and the enlarged portion 95 of the piston skirt outwardly against the barrel wall, effecting a tight and eflicient seal, as shown in FIGURE 5A. Since the skirt of the lpiston is fairly thin, it is sufficiently resilient to permit an interference lit within the barrel, thereby increasing sealing efficiency during normal operation of the plunger without, however, increasing materially the friction exerted by the piston against the cylinder wall. When this seal is fully engaged upon threading of the head skirt withinthe collar 14, egress of liquid from the passage between barrel 12 and plunger 35 into the discharge passage 40 is effectively prevented. The manufacturer of the pump unit may assemble the parts as shown in FIGURE l, threading the spray head 37 downwardly in the collar 14 to depress fully the plunger 35 and to close all seals. The unit may kthen be applied to a -filled container lmerely by pressing the cap 21 onto the neck of the container. As hereinbefore explained, the cap 21 and the container neck are constructed to resist relative rotation thereof after application of the cap. Consequently, the ultimate user may unscrew the head 37 from the collar 14 prior to operationV of the pump by grasping the container, and need not grip the cap 21. After operation of the pump, the head 37 may again be threaded into the collar to seal the unit against leakage,

such as would otherwise occur if the container were knocked over or laid on its side.

If a threaded cap is employed, the torque used to apply the cap to the container should be significantly greater than the torque used to thread the head 37 into the collar 14 so that the head may be released without unscrewing the cap from the container.

In the event it is desired to provide a dispenser capable of discharging liquid in the form of a stream rather than a mist or spray, appropriate modification of the illustrated embodiment of the invention may be effected without difliculty in accordance with prior art teachings and practice. For instance, the one-piece spray head illustrated herein may be replaced with a head and spout fitted on the upper end of the plunger and formed as described in our pending application aforesaid.

Such further modifications and alterations of the preferred structure as would occur to those skilled in the art are to be deemed to fall within the purview of the invention as hereinafter claimed. v

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fluid dispensing pump, the combination with a generally vertical Icylindrical pump barrel having at its upper end a collar, of a plunger reciprocably disposed in said barrel and having at its upper end and above said collar a discharge head having a discharge orice for uid, spring means acting between said barrel and plunger for urging said plunger upwardly in said barrel, check valve means provided -in said barrel to permit entry of fluid therein and to prevent downward flow of fluid therefrom, said plunger rbeing formed toV provide a discharge passage extending therethrough and communicating with said discharge orifice, means acting between said head and said collal to hold said head and plunger in a depressed and immobilized position against the a-ction of said spring means, sealing means sealing the opening between said head and collar when said plunger is depressed and immobilized to seal said barrel to prevent leakage externally of said plunger, and means operable when said plunger is depressed and immobilized to seal said discharge passage to prevent leakage internally of said plunger, said last named means comprising coacting sealing surface portions relatively displaced into engagement with each other to block flow of liquid through the discharge passage and hence to said orifice, and displaceable out of engagement with each other by pressure generated within the pump plunger on the downward stroke thereof to unblock flow through the discharge passage to permit dispensing therethrough, said first named sealing means comprising a depending annular flange on said head having a peripheral annular external sealing surface and havingan annular lip at the lower edge thereof providing an annular sealing surface spaced below said peripheral sealing surface, a first annular sealing surface on said collar engaged by said peripheral sealing surface of said flange and a second annular sealing surface ,on said collar spaced below said first annular sealing surface of the collar and engaged by said annular sealing surface of the lip when said head and plunger occupy said depressed and immobilized position, said flange having a diameter greater than the diameter of said first sealing surface and forming therewith a sealing interference fit, means being provided for cooperation with said collar for mounting said `barrel within a container for fluid, said collar being provided with a vent opening therethrough at a location intermediate said first andA second annular sealing surfaces of the collar, said vent normally communicating upwardly through said collar with the atmosphere externally of the pump and downwardly with the interior of the barrel therebelow when the plunger is raised from its depressed position for admitting air to the interior of said container, said vent being sealed off from communication both with the barrel interior therebelow and with the collar interior and the atmosphere externally of the pump in the depressed position of said plunger.

2. In a fluid dispensing pump, the combination with a generally vertical cylindrical pump barrel having at its upper end a collar, of a plunger reciprocably disposed in said barrel and having at its upper end and above said collar a discharge head having a discharge orifice for fluid, spring means acting between said barrel and plunger for urging said plunger upwardly in said barrel, check valve means provided in said barrel to permit entry of uid therein andv to prevent downward flow of fluid therefrom, said plunger being formed to provide a discharge passage extending therethrough and communicating with said discharge orifice, means cooperating with said discharge passage for preventing downward flow of fluid therein, means acting between said head and said collar to hold said head and plunger in a depressed and immobilized position against the action of said spring means, sealing means sealing the opening between said head and' collar when said plunger is depressed and immobilized to seal said barrel to prevent leakage externally of said plunger, a container cap connected to said collar for mounting said pump on a container neck, said collar having a vent extending therethrough for admitting air to said container, said vent opening into said collar, whereby said vent is closed when said sealing means is engaged to effect sealing, said sealing means including annular sealing surface portions on both said head and said collar respectively positioned for sealing engagement with each other around the entire inner periphery of said collar at locations above and below said vent when the plunger is depressed, and for disengagement when the plunger is raised.

3. In a fluid dispensing pump, the 1combination with a generally vertical cylindrical pump barrel having at its upper end a collar, of a plunger reciprocably d-isposed in said barrel and having at its upper end and above said collar a discharge head having a discharge'orifice for fluid and having at its lower end a piston slidably received within said barrel, spring means acting between said barrel and plunger for urging said plunger upwardly in said barrel, a check valve provided in said barrel to permit entry of fluid therein and to prevent downward flow of fluid therefrom, said plunger being formed to `provide a discharge passage extending therethrough and communicating with said discharge orifice, means acting between said head and said collar to hold said head and plunger in a depressed and immobilized position against and immobilized to seal said discharge passage to prevent leakage internally of said plunger, said last named means` comprising coacting sealing surfaces relatively displaced into engagement to block flow of liquid through the .disi charge passage and hence to said orifice, and coacting sealing means on said piston and barrel engaged under pressure when said head and plunger occupy said de-` pressed and immobilized position to prevent leakage past said piston, said sealing means on said piston and barrel-'comprising a depending annular flange on said piston having a peripheral head thereon engaging the iny the inner cylindrical surface of said barrel and engaging said piston flange in the depressed and immobilized position of said plunger to expand said flange and thereby to apply pressure between said head and said inner suri face of said barrel.

4. VIn a fluid dispensing pump, the combination with a generally vertical cylindrical pump barrel having at its upper end a collar, of a' plunger reciprocably disposed in said barrel and having at its upper end and above said collar a discharge head having a discharge orifice for fluid, said barrel, plunger, and head being formed of moldable material, said plunger being formed to provide a discharge passage extending therethrough and lcommunicating with said discharge orifice, and check valve means within said discharge passage to prevent downward movement of fluid therein, said check valve means comprising a valve seat molded integrally with said plunger, and a valve member molded integrally with said head and depending therefrom and engaging said valve seat, said valve member being sufiiciently flexible to permit disi placement thereof away from said valve seat in response to pressure exertedk against said valve member by fluid said sections, said partition having an aperture affording A l communication lbetween the two sections of said chamber, said valve member being seated against said partition and across said opening to block flow of liquid in one direction.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said valve l member is rodlike in shape and is deflected laterally by said partition to apply yielding pressure against said partition around said opening.

7. The combination of claim 4 in which said valve seat comprises an apertured partition in said plunger and said valve member yieldably engages said partition and covers the aperture therein.

8. The combination of claim 4 in which said valve means is an elongated rodlike stud, said Valve seat comprising an apertured plate disposed substantially vertically within said plunger and deecting laterally said valve member, and said plate is grooved adjacent the aperture to receive and partially surround one side of said stud.

9. In a uid dispensing pump, the combination with a generally vertical cylindrical pump barrel having at its upper end a collar, of a plunger reciprocably disposed insaid barrel and having at its upper end and above said collar a discharge head having a discharge orifice for tluid, said barrel, plunger, and head being formed of moldable material, said plunger being formed to provide a discharge passage extending therethrough and communicating with said discharge orifice, and check valve means within said discharge passage to prevent downward movement of fluid therein, said check valve means comprising a valve ball and a cooperating valve seat comprising a resilient annular ange projecting upwardly from the lower end of said barrel on which the ball rests, said flange being of less diameter than said ball, and means applying downward pressure to said ball `to expand said flange outwardly to allow the ball to seat against the inner surface of said flange.

10. In a fluid dispensing pump, the combination with a generally vertical cylindrical pump barrel having at its upper end a collar having threads thereon, of a plunger reciprocably disposed in said barrel and having at its upper end and above said collar a discharge head having a discharge orice for uid, a coil spring acting between said barrel and plunger for urging said plunger upwardly in said barrel, said plunger being formed to provide a discharge passage extending therethrough and communicating with said discharge orifice, said discharge head having a portion threaded for engagement with the threads on said collar to hold said plunger in a depressed and immobilized position against the action of said spring, sealing means sealing the opening between said head and collar when said plunger is depressed and immobilized to seal said barrel to prevent leakage externally of said plunger, and means operable when said plunger is depressed and immobilized to seal said discharge passage to prevent leakage internally of said plunger, said last named means comprising a valve ball and a cooperating valve seat comprising a resilient annular ange projecting upwardly from the lower end of said barrel on which the ball rests, said flange being of less diameter than said ball, and means applying downward pressure to said ball to expand' said flange outwardly to allow the ball to seat Y against the inner surface of said ange, said last named means comprising a convolution of reduced diameter formed near the lower end of said coil spring and engaging said Iball to press the latter against said valve seat when said plunger is depressed and immobilized.

11. In a Huid dispensing pump, the combination with a generally-vertical cylindrical pump barrel having at its upper end a collar-having threads thereon, of a plunger reciprocably disposed in said barrel and having at its upper end and above said collar a discharge head having a discharge orifice for ilui'd, a coil spring acting between said barrel and plunger for urging said plunger upwardly in said barrel, said plunger being formed to provide a discharge passage extending therethrough and communicating with said discharge orifice, said discharge head having a portion threaded for engagement with the threads on said collar to hold said plunger in a depressed and irnmobilized position against the action of said spring, ,sealing means sealing the opening between said head 'and collar when said plunger is depressed and immobilized to seal said barrel to prevent leakage externally of said plunger, and means operable when said plunger is depressed and immobilized to seal said discharge passage to prevent leakage internally of said plunger, said last named means comprising a valve ball and a cooperating valve seat, said seat being formed of moldable plastic and having an up- Astanding annular ange of less diameter than the ball,

having an upper rim on which the ball initially rests, and being sufliciently flexible to expand outwardly into a substantially conical configuration when downward pressure is applied to said ball, so that the ball then seats on the conical inner surface of said ange, said seat being further formed to provide a conical surface surrounding said flange and initially divergent thereform to limit outward expansion of said flange, whereby when the pressure on the ball is relieved the ange tends to return to its initial configuration and in so doing -dislodges said ball.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,730,684 10/ 1929 Phillips 222-321 1,793,492 2/1931 .Kreidel 221-321 2,315,758 4/ 1943 Willits 137-533.11 2,693,983 ll/ 1954 Howell 1 222-425 2,727,533 12/1955 Saalfrank 137-533.11 2,956,509 10/ 1960 Cooprider et al. 103-178 l3,033,473 5/ 1962 Kitabayashi 222--394 X 3,044,413 7/1962 Corsette 103--178 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

ERNEST A. FALLER, EVERETI W. KIRBY,

Examiners. 

9. IN A FLUID DISPENSING PUMP, THE COMBINATION WITH A GENERALLY VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL PUMP BARREL HAVING AT ITS UPPER END A COLLAR, OF A PLUNGER RECIPROCABLY DISPOSED IN SAID BARREL AND HAVING AT ITS UPPER END AND ABOVE SAID COLLAR A DISCHARGE HEAD HAVING A DISCHARGE ORIFICE FOR FLUID, SAID BARREL, PLUNGER, AND HEAD BEING FORMED OF MOLDABLE MATERIAL, SAID PLUNGER BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE A DISCHARGE PASSAGE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID DISCHARGE ORIFICE, AND CHECK VALVE MEANS WITHIN SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGE TO PREVENT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF FLUID THEREIN, SAID CHECK VALVE MEANS COMPRISING A VALVE BALL AND A COOPERATING VALVE SEAT COMPRISING A RESILIENT ANNULAR FLANGE PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE LOWER END OF SAID BARREL ON WHICH THE BALL RESTS, SAID FLANGE BEING OF LESS DIAMETER THAN SAID BALL, AND MEANS APPLYING DOWNWARD PRESSURE TO SAID BALL TO EXPAND SAID FLANGE OUTWARDLY TO ALLOW THE BALL TO SEAT AGAINST THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FLANGE. 